wfn.org | Re: LWI 2008-066 LWF Congratulates Former Finnish President Ahtisaari for Winning 2008 Nobel Peace P

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LWF Congratulates Former Finnish President Ahtisaari for Winning
2008 Nobel Peace Prize 
Statement by LWF General Secretary Noko 

GENEVA, 10 October 2008 (LWI) – The Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) congratulates former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari for
winning the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.

In a statement issued today, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr
Ishmael Noko pays tribute to the LWF's "long and valued
association" with Ahtisaari, whose career in the cause for peace
and freedom in several parts of the world was marked by "skill
and commitment." 

Announcing Ahtisaari as this year's Nobel laureate today, the
Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo recognized the contribution of
the United Nations diplomat and mediator to important efforts to
resolve conflicts on several continents over a period of more
than three decades. 

The LWF general secretary especially cites Ahtisaari's role in
Namibia's independence, in Kosovo and the Indonesian province of
Aceh, as among notable achievements of the 71-year-old laureate. 

Noko also recalls Ahtisaari's contribution as a keynote speaker
of the March 2007 LWF Council meeting in Lund, Sweden, where the
former Finnish president underlined six fundamental challenges
for Europe - unity in diversity, democracy, economic success, the
reduction of social and economic disparities, education, and
interfaith understanding. "This paradigm carries even sharper
challenges today than when Mr Ahtisaari presented it," notes
Noko.

He pays tribute to Ahtisaari’s presidency of Finland, 1994-2000,
during which "he led the country into an active and constructive
engagement in global affairs." He thanks the Finnish nation for
sharing the former president with the global community and
"making him and his life's work a gift to all of us." (271 words)

The full text of the general secretary's statement follows:

Statement from LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, on the
announcement of Mr Martti Ahtisaari as the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize
winner

The Lutheran World Federation warmly congratulates Mr Martti
Ahtisaari on being awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. Mr
Ahtisaari's long career in the cause of peace speaks for itself
in justification for this honor. As President of Finland, as a
United Nations diplomat and mediator, and as founder of the
Crisis Management Initiative, Mr Ahtisaari's skill and commitment
to the peaceful resolution of conflicts has always been evident.

The Lutheran World Federation has enjoyed a long and valued
association with Mr Ahtisaari, since at least his days as
Finland’s Ambassador to Tanzania. The most recent landmark in
this relationship was Mr Ahtisaari’s keynote address to the LWF
Council meeting in Lund, Sweden, in March 2007, when he spoke on
the theme of "The House of Europe". In making that speech, Mr
Ahtisaari drew on his long experience of the situation in Kosovo
(in particular as United Nations Special Envoy for the Future
Status Process for Kosovo) in order to address the unmet
challenges of the European project. He identified six pillars for
the 'House of Europe': unity in diversity, democracy, economic
success, the reduction of social and economic disparities,
education, and interfaith understanding. This paradigm carries
even sharper challenges today than when Mr Ahtisaari presented
it.

Prominent among his lifetime achievements, Martti Ahtisaari also
played a key role in supporting the emergence of Namibia as a
free and sovereign nation. He served as UN Commissioner for
Namibia from 1977 to 1981 and subsequently from April 1989 as UN
Special Representative heading the UN Transition Assistance
Group. His contribution to Namibian independence was recognized
in the award of honorary Namibian citizenship.

In the Indonesian province of Aceh, peace was achieved in 2005
thanks to the negotiation process that Mr Ahtisaari led, through
the Crisis Management Initiative.

>As constructive engagement in global affairs.

Throughout his public service, Martti Ahtisaari has drawn deeply
from the collective national experience of Finland. Finns have
known what it is to be subjugated and exploited by other nations,
and what it is to be involved in brutal internal and external
conflicts. This national experience has ensured that all Finns
prioritize peace and freedom as core values. Martti Ahtisaari has
devoted his political life to working on behalf of the people of
Finland to promote and share these values.

Therefore our congratulations go not only to Mr Ahtisaari
personally, but to the Finnish nation. The Lutheran World
Federation is grateful that this son of Finland has been shared
with the global community, making him and his life's work a gift
to all of us.

>Geneva, 10 October 2008 

>*        *          *

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF
currently has 141 member churches in 79 countries all over the
world, with a total membership of over 68.3 million. The LWF acts
on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such
as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information
service. Unless specifically noted, material presented does not
represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various
units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation
(LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.] 

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>Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69 
>Fax: +41/22-791 66 30

>*        *          *

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF
currently has 141 member churches in 79 countries all over the
world, with a total membership of over 68.3 million. The LWF acts
on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such
as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information
service. Unless specifically noted, material presented does not
represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various
units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation
(LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.] 

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
>P. O. Box 2100 CH-1211 
>Geneva 2 Switzerland

>Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69 
>Fax: +41/22-791 66 30